Pneumatic life belt



May 14, 1935- J. D. GARVEY PNEUMATIC LIFE 'BELT Filed Deo. 24, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 14, 1935. .1. D. GARVEY 2,001,384

PNEUMATIC LIFE BELT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Deo. 24, 1952 tive sections.

.of in Patented May 14, 1935 UNITI-:o stares 3 Claims.

My invention relates to a pnuematic type of life belt and especially to a type involving separately inflatable sections or members, with each section or member of a capacity adapted to induce otation of the user or to at least cause the body oiV the user to come to the surface of the Water, in the event that all sections or members are not inflated, or the various members or seetions are only partially inflated.

The object of my invention is to provide a life belt which may be applied to the body before the .belt is inflated and which will be so position, but will also be so arranged that the userY may easily and quickly innate the respec- In the event that it is found that the degree nation is not ample to induce desired flotation, the user may readily inflate to a further degree and thus ensure the desired condition; the belt being adjustable, within given dimensions, to varying sized bodies.

Another object of the invention is to so secure the inatable sections or members that they Will remain in place; and injury to one section or member ness of the belt. Y

These objects and advantages, as well as other advantages inherent in the construction, will will not destroy the useful- .all be readily comprehended from the following detailed description of the accompanying drawings, Wherein:-

Figure l is a perspective `view of my improved life belt in inated condition.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional View taken for example on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig-ure 3 is a sectional elevation through the belt at one end of the inatable member immediately adjacent and fastened to the belt.

Figure 4 is a top plan of a portion of the inated belt.

' Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view of the two ends of the smaller or inner member and means for reducmg its circumferential length.

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of the air valve and portion of one of the air tubes.

Figure 7 is an end View of the valve.

My improved life belt, as disclosed in the drawings, involves a belt I5 of suitable pliable material, which is intended to be secured about the Waist of the wearer; with the ends of the belt adjustably fastened by any suitable means or buckle as shown at I6. This belt is preferably of length to enable its use by different sized individuals, within given range. 'Ihe belt I5 c shape shown is provided with i?, preferably least at the back at a distance from the points of attachment straps Il, I l shoulders. 1

Disposed immediately adjacent to the belt I5 is an inflatable elongated tube I8 of suitable length and provided with an iniiating tube I9, whose outer end is provided with a suitable mouth-piece 2i).

The mouth-piece is preferably ofthe oval so as to be easily taken into the mouth for infiating purposes. The mouth-piece consists of a member 2| xedly secured in any suitable vair-'tight manner to the end of the tube and the opposite end of the member 2I' reduced in diameter Aand externally threaded to receive the inner threaded end of the other member 22, so as to provide a smooth outer surface, see Figure 6.

This shell member 22 is open at its outerj'end, with the opening surrounded by' the inwardly disposed annular ange 23. .f

Shell member 22 constitutes a housing for the valve which, in the particular exemplification, consists oi' the annular disc 2li, which is shown dished by a suitable coil springZ, seated atone end. in the dished side of the valve-disc, while'the other end of the spring seats on the shoulder formed by the reduced end of the memberZI. As is apparent, the valve-disc is firmly held on its seat and hence will from the tube; while on be readily dislodged from the end of member 22V when the mouth-piece has been taken into theA mouth.

The belt is shown provided with three inflatable elongated tubes i8, -2-8 and 21,- each 0f somewhat greater length so as to enable the tubes to be concentricall-y arranged when inilated, as shown in Figures 1 and y2; the length ofthe tubes 26 and 2l being such that the ends to the belt so as to prevent these from slipping olf the users the other handit may its seatvbyblowing into -of each tube will be in close proximity to each of length sufficient to have the mouth-piece and held againstthe flange '23y :tube 21 is secured to the belt Vof course, before .2Y valves in close proximity to` the Vmouth of the user; and in order that they may at all times be Within convenient reach and position, I provide one of the shoulder straps, namely strap I1, near its top on the portion which will be disposed close to the users ein, with a loop as at I1a, through which the inating tubes I9, 28 and 29 are passed and held in position as shown in Figure l, where the valved mouthpieces 20 are `constantly in position to be quickly taken into the mouth for inflation or further inflation should it be necessary, while the user is in the water.

The air holding tubes I8, 26 and 21 are each provided with loops formed integral with each tube. These loops may be formed by strips 30 of rubber vulcanized or formed integral with the tubes; the strips at spaced intervals being left uncemented so as to provide loops or passages for the straps whereby they are secured to the belt I5. That is to say, the Vtube I8 vis secured by a series of straps 3I at spaced intervals about the belt; tube 26 is secured in place to the belt I5 by the straps 32; while the I5 by the straps 33; the straps being secured in any suitable manner to the belt proper I5; the ends of the straps being secured together by'snap fasteners.

Each tube is therefore separatelysecured to `the belt so as to Vbe readily removed and replaced should occasion require.

In order to permit easyV adjustment of the belt i5 -so as to fit different sized waist lines and also permit ready access to the buckle I6, I

l.show the tube I8, at one end, provided with a take-up member 34, see Figure 5. This member 34 is shown in the nature of an annularv cupshaped disc provided with `an opening at 35- which is preferably surrounded by curved walls as at 36 so as not to present a sharp edge to the rubber tube which is passed through lthe hole 35.

This member 34 is also provided with eyeleted openings as at 31 (see Figure 3) to receive the cord or lacing 3B as shown in Figure 3. Where the life belt is worn by an individual having a Waist-line smaller than the maximum length of the tube I8 would provide, one end of the tube, as at l8r, is passed through hole 35 and folded up against the member l34 and this folded end held in place by the lacing 38 as shown; this folding of the tube-end being done, the tube is inflated; thereby reducing the circumferential size of the inflated portion of the tube.

When the maximum size of the tube is desired,` the lacing 38 may readily be unlaced, the end Ia ofthe tube released and member 34 removed.

The tubes, when not in use, may be quickly deiiated by unseating the valves 24, which are shown provided with the smallstems or .pins as at 39 in Figure 6.

My improved lift belt is especially intended for use by swimmers and therefore has been devised to enable rapid inflation while in the water when the swimmer fatigues or becomes incapacitated by crampsor otherwise being primarily intended for use during emergency and elongated innatable `for removably securing the -of` the inflatable tube so that the sustainingk capacity is not only thereby increased, but in the event of an injury to one section or tube, the belt will not become useless but will still enable the user to obtain a floating or sustaining condition.

By having each section or tube independent of the belt proper and at the same time securely fastened to the belt, the belt may be more firmly secured about the body to ensure its proper positioning; a condition essential to its effectiveness; this positioning being further ensured by the shoulder-straps shown.

The exemplication of the invention is believed to be the best embodiment thereof and has been described in terms merely employed for purposes of description; it being understood, however, that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of my inven- What I claim is:

1. A life belt comprising an adjustable belt adapted to fit aboutV the Vwaist of the user; an tube disposed about said belt and provided with an inflating tube; means for reducing the length of said inflatable tube in keeping with the adjustment of said belt consisting of a disc provided with an opening having a beaded perimeter for passage of the end of said tube therethrough before inflation and lacing secured. to said disc adapted .to receive the' folded non-inflated end of the tube therebeneath; and means whereby said tube is secured to said belt.

'videdwith a series of loops' formed integral therewithand having a long upwardly extending inflating-tube provided at its upper end with a valved mouth-piece; a plurality of tape secured to the belt adapted to pass through said loops inflatable tube in place; means on the shoulder-straps for holding the mouth-piece in proximity to the mouthV of the user; and means for reducing the length of the inflatable tube in keeping with the adjustment of the belt consisting of a disc having an opening adapted to receive the noninfiated end of the inflatable tube, the disc between saidopening and its perimeter having series of holes provided with a lacing whereby the folded end of the tube may be held against the disc. f v Y 3. A lift belt comprising an adjustable belt adaptedY to t about the waist of the user; an

- elongated inflatable tube disposed about the belt and provided with an inating tube; means for reducing the length of said inatable tube consisting of a rigid member provided with an opening therethrough adapted to permit one end to pass through said opening before iniiation, said member having a plurality of eyelets between the opening and its `perimeter provided with lacing threaded therethrough whereby the non-inflated portion of the tube disposed through the opening in the member will be heldagainst the side of the member beneathV the lacing, and means wherebythe inflatable tube is removably secured to saidV adjustable belt.

x JAMES D. GARVEY. 

